About

“I have a strong belief that you need courage as an artist to break away from the mould. There always needs to be an element of fear in making work.

I am a Visual Artist, Curator, and Design Programme Manager based in West Wales, working across both 2D and 3D. My practice is rooted in Artivism, creating work that raises awareness of social, political, and environmental issues. I often explore themes of belonging, sense of place, and our relationship with nature, expressed through the use of natural materials, patination, and a celebration of imperfection.

Alongside my art practice, I have over 15 years of experience managing cross-disciplinary projects and programmes in the design and technology sectors, with a focus on connecting people, place, and culture on a global scale.

Since 2019, I have worked as a curator and exhibiting artist with ArtCan, a non-profit supporting contemporary artists through collaborative and accessible programming. I curated two major virtual exhibitions:

  • Power of Pencil (Mar to Apr 2023), celebrating ArtCan’s 10-year anniversary and the universality of the pencil, with music by Cara Tivey
  • ARTIVISM IN|SIGHT (Apr to May 2022), a 3D show featuring work by 16 international artists, accompanied by an original soundscape I created for the show

I managed all aspects of curatorial delivery, including concept development, artist liaison, layout design, and promotional strategy. I have also hosted public talks and events, both online and in person, on topics including the creative process, craft practice, and arts-based activism:

  • Strands (Oct 2024, Brixton), artist talk and Q&A on multidisciplinary storytelling through materials
  • ArtCan Artist Talk Host (Nov 2024), facilitating a conversation with Dr Christina Reading and Dr Jess Moriarty

My curatorial approach is inclusive and activist in spirit, with a strong interest in material culture, community voice, and sustainable narratives. I’m influenced by artists such as Constantin Brâncuși, who continues to shape my three-dimensional work; Hans Hofmann, who held a strong conviction about the spiritual and social value of art. This is a conviction I also share and use to galvanise the themes I am working on. Another more contemporary influence on my work is Julian Schnabel the American painter and filmmaker, who frequently experiments with new materials and painting techniques, and embraces various modes simultaneously to avoid being limited by a signature style. I aspire to the same drivers, which resonate with my own practice.

I am committed to contributing to the cultural life of West Wales. As part of this, I am currently learning Welsh to support more inclusive regional engagement and collaboration.”

Originally from Buckinghamshire, Cath Stocker studied at Amersham College of Art & Design and Leeds Polytechnic, graduating with a B.A. (Hons) in Fine Art. Cath has exhibited extensively across the UK and as far afield as Finland and Austria as well as curating exhibitions for ArtCan Org.